Machine for sewing knitted fabrics.



G. KEYSER. MAGHINE FOR snwme KNITTED FABRICS.

APPLICATION FILED APR..30, 1908.

Patented June 22, 1909.

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G. KEYSER.

MACHINE FOR SEWING KNITTED FABRICS. APPLIOATION FILED APR. 30, 1908.

' 925,704. Patented June 22,1909.

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UNITED EFTQE.

GEORGE KEYSER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO JOHN W. HEPWORTH, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

MACHINE FOR SEWING KNITTED FABRICS.

- ceiving and advancing the edges of the fabric to the sewing mechanism.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and efficient take-up mechanism for the thread passing to the needle by means of which the tension of the thread may be nicely regulated and by means of which a predetermined quantity of thread may be permitted to remain in each stitch during the sewing operation so that a stitch of any desired elasticity may be produced.

Having this object in view, the invention consists in the novel construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described and particularly claimed.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a machine for sewing knitted fabrics, embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an elevation thereof, partly shown in section, and partly broken away. Fig. 3 is a detail showing the take up mechanism and adjuncts in a different position. Fig. 4 is a vertical section as on the line 44 of Fig. 2.

3 designates the bed plate, 5, the driving shaft mounted in suitable bearings thereon, and 6, the driving pulley on the shaft 5. The thread-carrying needle 7 is mounted on one arm 8 of a bell crank lever 8, the other arm 8 of which has, pivotally connected thereto, a block 10 in engagement with an eccentric 11 on the shaft 5. The looper hook 12 is carried by the free end of an arm 13 which is pivoted, as at 14, to a post 15 retatably mounted on the bed plate 3. Mo tion is imparted to the looper hook 12 by a cam 16 on the shaft 5, the hook-carrying arm 13 being held in engagement with the cam 16 by the action of a suitable spring 17.

Rising from the bed pfate 4 is an overhanging frame 18, which supports an annular head 19 to which is fitted a rotatable Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 30, 1908.

Patented June 22, 1909.

Serial No. 430,110.

annulus 20 carrying a series of radially projecting impaling pins 21. fabric to be united are impaled upon the pins 21, and the annulus 20 is intermittently rotated by suitable mechanism so as to advance the pins 21 successively to the needle 7 and looper hook 12 during the sewing operation.

The construction and operation of the parts thus far described are common and well known, and I shall therefore not describe them in detail herein.

The bell crank lever 8 is mounted on a fixed shaft which projectsfrom the frame 18 and secured to the fixed shaft 35 is a vertical arm 34. The lower end of the arm 34 is provided with an opening 36 therein to which are fitted two collars 37 and 38, having a space therebetween. The outer end of the collar 37 is provided with a flange 39 engaging one side of the arm 34 to prevent inward movement of the collar 37; and the outer end of the collar 38 is provided with a flange 40 engaging the other side of the arm 34 to prevent inward movement of the collar 38.

Extending through the collars 37 and 38 is a pin 41 one end of which is provided with a head 42 adjacent the flange 40, and the other end of which is provided with a transverse pin 43 engaging the flange 39. Encircling the pin 41 and engaging the inner ends of the collars 37 and 38 is a spring 44 which presses the collar 37 and its flange 39 toward the head 42.

Interposed between the head 42 and the flange 40 is one end of a link or member 31 having a longitudinal slot 32 formed therein through which the pin 41 extends. This member 31 is adapted to move transversely of the pin 41 against the friction between its sides and the head 42 and flange 40 exerted by the action of the spring 44. The other end of the member 31 is connected to a pin 28 which )ivotally connects the adjacent ends of two inks 27 and 29. The link 29 is pivoted, as at 30, to a bracket or projection 22 on the needle-carrying arm 8 of the bell crank lever 8. The link 27 is pivoted, as at 33, to an arm 24 which is pivotally mounted, as at 23, on the bracket 22. The arm 24 is provided with a thread-engaging part or eye 26, through which the thread 45 passes on its Way to the needle 7. The thread-engaging part 26 of the arm 24 is adapted to move to- The edges of the Ward and from a line extending between two thread-guiding parts 46 and 47, the part 46 being an eye on the arm 8 and the part 47 being a slot formed in the bottom of the arm 8 The thread 45 in passing to the needle 7 passes through a suitable tension device 48 on the upper end of the arm 34; thence, to and through an eye in the pivot pin 30 for the link 29 thence to and through an eye in the pin 28 connecting the links 27 and 29; thence through the eye 46 to and through the eye 26; thence through the slot 47 to and through the eye 7 of the needle 7 to the previously l'ormed stitch uniting the edges of the fabric.

During the operation oi the machine the eye or thread-engaging part 26 01' the arm 24 moves toward and irom a line extending between the thread-guiding parts 46 and 47 thereby increasing and decreasing the amount of thread extending bctweeiti the parts 46 and 47 and thus taking up and letting out the thread during the sewing operation, as will be hereinafter explained.

Fitted to a projection on tne bracket 22 is an adjustable screw 49, the inner end of which is adapted to engage one side oi the link 29 to limit its movement toward the screw 49; and fitted to a projection on the bracket 22 is an adjustable screw 59, the iii-- ner end of which is adapted to engage the other side of the link 29 to limit its movement toward the screw 50 for a purpose presently explained.

The operation is as followsz During the sewing operation, the bell crank lever 8 and therewith the needle 7 is reciprocated under the influence of the eccentric 11 to cause the needle 7 to pass over the impaling pins 21 and penetrate the edges of the fabric to be united; and the looper hook 12 is operated under the influence oi the cam 16 to take loops oi thread from the needle 7 and cast them oil during the formation of the stitches.

During the forward movement of the arm 8 the member 31 moves the link 29 from its engagement with the screw 49 over into ongagement with the screw 50, and as the arm 8 completes its iorward movement after the link 29 is engaged by the screw 50, the member 31 slides between the head 42 and flange 39 against its frictional engagement therewith. During the reverse movement of the arm 8 the member 31 moves the link 29 from its engagement with the screw 59 back into engagement with the screw 49, and as the arm 8 completes its reverse movement alter the link 29 is engaged by the screw 49, the member 31 slides between the head 42 and flange 40 against its frictional engagement therewith. Thus it will be seen that as the link 29 is moved from one to the other of the screws 49 and 50, the pivot pin 28 will move from one side to the other of a line extending between the pivot points 30 and 33, thus causing the thread-engaging part 26 of the arm 24 to first move outwardly away from a line extending between the threadguiding parts 46 and 47 to take up the thread, and then move inwardly to let out the thread, this tar-ring up and letting out of the thread occurring during the initial forward movement of the arm 8 and during the initial reverse movement ol' the arm 8 During the first forward movement oi the needle 7 the Y arm 24 moves outwardly to take up the slack thread, which occurs before the eye 7 a of the needle passes through the fabric, and immediately thereafter the arm 24 moves inwardly to let out the thread, and during the con- 'inued forward movement of the needle 7 additional thread is drawn through the tension device 48 by the movement oi the needle eye 7, and as the needle 7 completes its l'orward movement, it receives the loop of thread cast oil by the looper hook. During the first reverse movement of the needle 7 the arm 24 moves outwardly to take up the slack thread noduced by the receding needle, and the looper hook 12 moves over the needle in a manner to receive 'l'roni the needle a new loop of thread. As the needle continues its re verse movement, the take up arm 24 moves inward and lets out the thread until the link 29 engages the screw 49 whereupon the needle 7 will draw upon the previously i'ormed stitch until the needle completes its reverse movement, and the amount 01' thread permitted to remain in the previously i'ormed stitch will be determined b r the time that the take-up arm ceases to move inwardly to let out the thread with relation to the reverse movement of the needle for drawin up the stitch.

The timing of the movement of the takeup arm 24 with relation to the movement of the needle arm 8 and the extent of movement of the take up arm 24 may be nicely regulated by adjusting the screws 49 and 50; rom which it will be seen that by adjusting the screws 49 and 50 any predetermined quantity of thread may be permitted to remain in each succeeding stitch during the sewing operation.

1 claim:

1. In a machine for sewing knitted fabrics the combination of a support, the needle and its actuating mechanism, the looper-hook and its actuating mechanism, the iinpaling pins and their actuating mechanism, two thread-guiding parts, a movable take-up member having a thread-en part, and means for moving the thread-engaging part of said member toward and from a line ex tending between said thread-guiding parts during the movement of the needle through one portion of its path and for holdin said thread-engaging part in fixed relation to said thread-guiding parts during the movement of the needle through another portion of its path.

2. In a machine for sewing knitted fabrics the combination of a support, the needle and its actuating mechanism, the looper hook and its actuating mechanism, the impaling pins and their actuating mechanism, two thread-guiding parts, a movable take-up member having a thread-engaging part, means for moving the thread-engaging part of said member toward and from a line extending between said thread-guiding parts during the movement of the needle through one portion of its path and for holding said thread-engaging part in fixed relation to said thread-guiding parts during the movement of the needle through another portion of its path, and means for regulating the degree of movement of the thread-engaging part of said take-up member.

3. In a machine for sewing knitted fabrics the combination of a support, the needle arm and its actuating mechanism, the needle carried by said arm, the looper-hook and its actuating mechanism, the impaling pins and their actuating mechanism, two threadguiding parts carried by said arm, a movable take-up member carried by said arm and having a thread-engaging part, and means for moving the thread-engaging part of said member to and from a line extending between said thread-guiding parts during the movement of the needle arm.

4c. In a machine for sewing knitted fabrics the combination of a support, the needle arm and its actuating mechanism, the needle carried by said arm, the looper-hook and its actuating mechanism, the impaling pins and their actuating mechanism, two threadguiding parts carried by said arm, a movable take-up member carried by said arm and having a thread-engaging part, means for moving the thread-engaging part of said member to and from a line extending between said thread-guiding parts during the movement of the needle arm, and means for regulating the degree of movement of the thread-engaging part of said take-up memher.

5. In a machine for sewing knitted fabrics, the combination of a support, the needle and its actuating mechanism the looper hook and its actuating mechanism, the impaling pins and their actuating mechanism, two thread-guiding parts, a pivoted take-up arm having a thread-engaging part movable toward and from a line extending between said thread-guiding parts, a support for said pivoted arm, a link pivoted to said arm, a second link pivoted to the first named link and to the support for said arm, and means for moving the pivotally connected ends of said links to move said thread-engaging part during the movement of the needle.

6. In a machine for sewing knitted fabrics, the combination of a support, the needle and its actuating mechanism, the looper hook and its actuating mechanism, the im paling pins and their actuating mechanism, two thread-guiding parts, a pivoted take-up arm having a thread-engaging part movable toward and from a line extending between said thread-guiding parts, a support for said pivoted arm, a link pivoted to said arm, a second link pivoted to the first named link and to the support for said arm, means for moving the pivotally connected ends of said links to move said thread-engaging part dur ing the movement of the needle, and means for regulating the degree of movement of the pivotally connected ends of said links.

7. In a machine for sewing knitted fabrics, the combination of a support, the needle, the needle arm and its actuating mechanism, the looper hook and its actuating mechanism, the impaling pins and their actuating mechanism, two thread-guiding parts a movable take-up member having a threadengaging part, means for moving the threadengaging part of said member toward and from a line extending between said threadguiding parts during the movement of the needle, the last named means including two 0 erating parts movable with relation to each other and having a frictional sliding engagement with each other, one of said operating parts being connected to receive motion from the needle arm and means for limiting the movement of one of said operating parts with relation to the movement of the other of said operating parts.

8. In a machine for sewing knitted fabrics,

he combination of a support, the needle, the needle arm and its actuating mechanism, the looper-hook and its actuating mechanism, the impaling pins and theiractuating mechanism, two thread-guiding parts, a movable take-up member having a thread-engaging part, means for moving the thread-engaging part of said member toward and from a line extending between said thread-guiding parts during the movement of the needle, the last named means including two operating parts movable with relation to each other and having a frictional sliding engagement with each other, one of said operating parts being connected to receive motion from the needle arm and adjustable means for limiting the movement of one of said operating parts with relation to the movement of the other of said operating parts.

9. In a machine for sewing knitted fabrics, the combination of a support, the needle and its actuating mechanism, the looper-hook and its actuating mechanism, the impaling pins and their actuating mechanism, two thread-guiding parts, a pivoted take-u arm having a thread-engaging part movab e toward and from a line extending between said thread-guiding parts, a support for said pivoted arm, a link pivoted to said arm, a second link pivoted to the first named link and to the support for said arm, means for moving the pivotally connected ends of said links to move said thread-engaging part during the movement of the needle, the last named means including two operating parts movable with relation to each other and having a frictional sliding engagement with each other, and means for limiting the movement of one of said operating parts with relation to the movement of the other of said operating parts.

10. In a machine for sewing knitted fabrics, the combination of a support, the nee dle and its actuating mechanism, the looperhook and its actuating mechanism, the impaling pins and their actuating mechanism, two thread-guiding parts, a pivoted take-up arm having a thread-engaging part movable toward and from a line extending between said thread-guiding parts, a support for said pivoted arm, a link pivoted to said arm, a second link pivoted to the first named link and to the support for said arm, means for moving the pivotally connected ends of said links to move said thread-engaging part dur ing the movement of the needle, the last named means including two operating parts movable with relation to each other and having a frictional sliding engagement with each other, and adjustable means for limiting the movement of said operating parts with ela tion to the movement of the other of said operating parts.

11. In a machine for sewing knitted fabrics, the combination of a support, the needle arm and its actuating mechanism, the needle carried by said arm, the looper hook and its actuating mechanism, the impaling pins and their actuating mechanism, two thread-guiding parts carried by said arm, a pivoted take-up arm carried by the needle arm and having a thread-engaging part movable toward and from a line ext-ending between said thread-guiding parts, a link pivoted to said take-up arm, a second link pivoted to the first named link and the needle arm, a member connected to said link and having a sliding frictional connection with said support, and means for limiting the movement of said links by said member.

12. In a machine for sewing knitted fabrics, the combination of a support, the needle arm and its actuatin mechanism, the needle carried by said arm, the looper hook and its actuating mechanism, the impaling pins and their actuating mechanism, two thread-guiding parts carried by said arm, a pivoted take-up arm carried by the needle arm and having a thread-engaging part movable toward and from a line extending between said thread-guiding parts, a link pivoted to said take-up arm, a second link pivoted to the first named link and the needle arm, a member connected to said link and having a sliding frictional connection with said support, and adjustable means for limiting the movement of said links by said member. s

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE KEYSER.

Witnesses SADIE I. Han-PER, A. V. Gnonrn. 

